Missouri Western State University (D2) Adds Women's Lacrosse

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western State University Board of Governors unanimously approved the addition of women's lacrosse as the 17th NCAA Division II varsity sport at the University during a telephone poll Tuesday morning. The team will become active in the 2020-21 academic year and begin competition in the spring of 2021. A press conference detailing the addition will be held at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, in the KCP&L Theater inside the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex.

Missouri Western will become the fourth NCAA Division II member in the state of Missouri to add the sport and the first from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. Missouri Western will be the only public DII member in the state of Missouri sponsoring women's lacrosse.

"What an incredible opportunity to be the first MIAA institution to sponsor women's lacrosse and be at the forefront of leading the rapid growth of the sport in this region," MWSU vice president of intercollegiate athletics Dr. Josh Looney said. "Between the recently-renovated Spratt Stadium and the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex, our state-of-the-art infrastructure will allow lacrosse student-athletes to experience championship success on and off the field at Missouri Western. We are excited to grow our student-athlete population beyond 400 students with this high-achieving group of athletes and lead an important University initiative that will continue to move MWSU forward."

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Anderson University (D2 SC) Adds Men's Lacrosse

ANDERSON, S.C. – Anderson University will be adding men's lacrosse to its expanding list of intercollegiate sports opportunities with the addition of men's lacrosse, as announced on Monday by Vice President for Athletics, Dr. Bert Epting, Jr. Albert Mitchell has been named as the Trojans' head coach and will lead the program, beginning Monday. The Black and Gold's inaugural season will be during the 2020-2021 academic year and will raise AU's varsity sports offerings to 19 sports, including the coed cheer squad.

 The Trojans join nine other South Atlantic Conference members who currently offer men's lacrosse and with the addition of men's lacrosse in the Electric City, the SAC will boast 11 members sponsoring the sport (UVa Wise and Carson-Newman are the exceptions), including national powerhouse Limestone, which will join the league next year.

"We are very excited about the addition of men's lacrosse to Anderson University and I am certain the team will contribute to our legacy of athletic success," said President Evans Whitaker. "More importantly, the young men who join our program will receive an excellent education rooted in character development and intentional discipleship. We are looking forward to the future of Trojan athletics with great anticipation."

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Davenport University (D2 MI) Adds Men's Lacrosse

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Davenport University has announced that the men's lacrosse program will be transitioning from Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) Division I to NCAA Division II beginning in the 2019-20 school year. The 2019 season will be the last one in the MCLA. DU will be joining 71 other NCAA Division II sponsored men's lacrosse programs.

 "The dynamic of men's lacrosse is changing in the Midwest," says Paul Lowden, Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. "We feel a transition to NCAA Division II supports an environment that will provide our student-athletes with the best overall experience. Our student-athletes will play a competitive NCAA Division II schedule as an independent in 2019-20. We will continue to explore conference affiliation options for our student-athletes that best align with our men's lacrosse program and Davenport University."

The addition of men's lacrosse brings the total number of NCAA-sponsored sports to 22 at Davenport University. The program is under the direction of head coach Chris Esquivel who is in his fourth season. Esquivel has guided the team to a 38-13 record during his three seasons at Davenport. In 2016, the Panthers captured the NAIA National Invitational Championship during Esquivel's first season at the helm. Last season under the guidance of Esquivel, senior Bryan Larocque set the MCLA career points record with 345 including 276 goals.

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University of Pittsburgh Add Women's Lacrosse

PITTSBURGH—University of Pittsburgh Director of Athletics Heather Lyke announced today that Pitt Athletics will add women's lacrosse as a varsity sport. The program will play its inaugural season against NCAA Division I competition in the 2021-22 academic year. Pitt will be the ninth Atlantic Coast Conference institution to sponsor the sport at the NCAA Division I level.

The program will be fully funded with the NCAA maximum of 12 scholarships and play its games at the Petersen Sports Complex. "On behalf of our University and Department of Athletics, we are extremely excited to announce the addition of women's lacrosse as a Division I sport at Pitt," said Lyke, who in 2014 chaired the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Committee. "We are grateful for the support of our Board of Trustees and Chancellor Patrick Gallagher. Their belief in the vision and future of Pitt Athletics has been vital.

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Marian University (D3 WI) Adds Women's Lacrosse

FOND DU LAC, Wis. - Marian University director of athletics Jason Bartelt has announced the addition of women's lacrosse to Marian and the hiring of David Pomeroy to head the program which will begin competition during the 2018-19 academic year.

 "I am proud to announce the addition of women's lacrosse to our athletic department," commented Bartelt on the addition of women's lacrosse. "This addition provides another athletic opportunity for student-athletes looking to continue their passion for sports while achieving a higher education at Marian." Women's lacrosse becomes the 21st varsity sport at Marian University with the addition of men's lacrosse who will open their inaugural season later this year. The home opener for the men's lacrosse program is set for Thursday, March 8 when Marian welcomes Calvin to Smith Field. The addition of women's lacrosse in 2018-19 will cap off a run of four consecutive years Sabre athletics will have a varsity sport play their inaugural season; men's volleyball (2015-16), ACHA hockey (2016-17), men's lacrosse (2017-18).

 "I am very excited to be adding women's lacrosse to the lineup of Marian athletics teams," commented Marian University president Andrew Manion. "Coach Pomeroy has a strong history of getting collegiate teams started and I think he will make a great addition to our coaching staff."

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